Franklin D. Roosevelt
Democratic Party
March 4, 1933 – April 12, 1945 (3 terms)
Vice Presidents: John Garner (1st term), Henry Wallace (2nd term), Harry Truman (3rd term)
President Franklin Roosevelt entered the office in 1933 at a time when the nation was in an utter state of emergency. His ability to give the Americans quick relief from the depression upon entering office and his success of leading the nation through a world war makes Roosevelt more than worthy of an B for his role as President of the United States.
Upon entering office, the Great Depression was wreaking havoc on almost every American citizen. Unemployment was at an all-time high, Americans had no faith in the stability of banks, and the world was also in a downward slump economically. FDR’s plan in his first term was first and foremost to create jobs. He planned on using federal recruiting to aid him in this task. He also wanted to reorganize the use of the nation’s natural resources, thereby aiding to former-president Theodore Roosevelt’s conservation initiatives. In the end, FDR did provide many new jobs at the onset of his presidency, however unemployment didn’t improve to the point that it was in the early 1920s.
In FDR’s second term, his goal was to further work towards ending the depression. As stated in his Second Inaugural Address, Roosevelt listed the many hardships of American life at the time and he vowed to better the low American quality of life.
During Roosevelt’s third and fourth terms, the US was entrenched in World War II. At the beginning of FDR’s third term, the US was just entering the war; and at the outset of FDR’s fourth term, the US was helping to end the war. At the war’s beginning, Roosevelt wanted to completely stay neutral. The other entanglement that he was willing to risk was to trade with the European nations involved in the war. However, with the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, FDR felt as though he needed to exert the US’s power and force in order to protect itself. This attitude ultimately helped to end WWII.
Throughout Roosevelt’s first four terms, he always had a very good relationship with Congress. This good relationship could be seen when Roosevelt called for an emergency Congressional session in order to pass the New Deal. Congress followed through on FDR’s large request and many new pieces of legislation were made in a matter of a year’s time. Congress also showed their support in the Electorate vote; in every presidential election Roosevelt was in, he carried at least 81% of the Electoral vote. Congress additionally answered to Roosevelt’s call when declaring war. After Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor, Roosevelt asked Congress to declare war and Congress unanimously voted for it. The only dark time in Roosevelt’s relationship with Congress was after his Court Packing Plan of 1937. The American people saw this as a suspicious and furtive plot for Roosevelt to further himself politically instead of doing what was right for the nation. After this act, little to no new pieces of legislation proposed by FDR passed through Congress concerning the New Deal.
The most positive action of Roosevelt’s presidency was by far the New Deal. It provided immediate relief for the American people during a time when total and complete collapse of the nation was imminent. Roosevelt kept the people in mind first when dealing with how to “fix” the nation. He passed laws that helped create jobs, stabilize the banks, inflate US currency, lower overproduction from farmers and factories, and help unions and laborers fight for fairer treatment. Even though the New Deal didn’t solely pull the United States out of the depression, it did play a significant role in bettering the nation and providing quick improvement in the lives of many Americans.
The most negative aspect of FDR’s presidency is a spot shared by two of Roosevelt’s decisions: his court packing plan and his neutrality and isolationist outlook during the beginning of WWII. At the onset of WWII, America was still fighting through the depression and FDR began pulling out of international affairs, such as the London Conference’s plan to make a universal exchange rate for currency. FDR was only concerned with the well-being of the United States and he believed that isolationism was the only way that America could quickly get back on track economically. As a result, during the pre-WWII era, while Britain and France were dealing with Hitler’s ambitious war-like tactics, the US claimed neutrality and, as stated in the Neutrality Act of 1939, America would only offer up their war supplies to be bought in cash by only European democracies and those nations had to come directly to America in their own carrying ships in order to obtain these goods. American’s motives to so greatly isolate themselves during the beginning of the war hurt the United States in the long run. The US’s refusal to enter in world affairs caused Britain and France to feel outnumbered when going against the very powerful Hitler and his allies. If FDR chose to help Britain and France before the bombings at Pearl Harbor, together they could have stopped Hitler and Japan before they began to further terrorize other nations.
Roosevelt’s other poor decision made while in office may not have been major in the grand scheme of American history, but it greatly affected Americans’ views of FDR. In an attempt to “cleanse” the Supreme Court, Roosevelt indirectly offended the public. The unspoken rule of tampering with the sacred Supreme Court came across as overly ambitious and dishonorable in the eyes of the people and, therefore, FDR’s reputation suffered. The people were convinced that purposely “running” justices out of the Supreme Court would negatively affect Americans’ basic rights and they saw it as a danger to the checks and balances of the three government branches. Other Americans even branded Roosevelt as a communist; this insult didn’t go over well during a time when red scare feelings still resonated in the backs of many Americans’ minds. After this doing, the people began to vote more and more Republicans into office during congressional elections. Congress also reacted by being more stringent in the passing through of more New Deal policies. This put a very large dampening on FDR’s relationship with Congress, the people, and with the progression of the New Deal.
One of the most influential decisions made by Roosevelt during his administration was the New Deal. This long list of legislation created many new laws that were meant to help the American people during the Great Depression. However, much of the legislation passed during the time is still in place today. For example, the Social Security Act, the Tennessee Valley Authority, the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, and the Federal Housing Administration were all originally parts of FDR’s New Deal and they are all still in effect today. Even the legislation passed that was discontinued had lasting effects on the American people.
In conclusion, Roosevelt make great strides in bettering the nation. His enthusiasm upon entering office made the people trust and believe in his process: the New Deal. His New Deal was very positive and far-reaching in its effects. His added commitment to the well-being of the United States also led the country to success during WWII and to the strengthening of US relations with neighboring nations. Even though FDR could have done better in terms of respecting the feelings of the people, unlike in the court packing plan, and when insisting on US isolation at the beginning of WWII, he came back from these difficulties and was ultimately still an effective leader of the nation, bringing the country back from depression and further establishing it as a world power. Therefore, Roosevelt is a worthy recipient of a B for the work he did in bettering the nation while president.
Works Cited
DeGregorio, William. The Complete Book of U.S. Presidents. Fort Lee: Barricade. 2005.
Democratic Party
March 4, 1933 – April 12, 1945 (3 terms)
Vice Presidents: John Garner (1st term), Henry Wallace (2nd term), Harry Truman (3rd term)
President Franklin Roosevelt entered the office in 1933 at a time when the nation was in an utter state of emergency. His ability to give the Americans quick relief from the depression upon entering office and his success of leading the nation through a world war makes Roosevelt more than worthy of an B for his role as President of the United States.
Upon entering office, the Great Depression was wreaking havoc on almost every American citizen. Unemployment was at an all-time high, Americans had no faith in the stability of banks, and the world was also in a downward slump economically. FDR’s plan in his first term was first and foremost to create jobs. He planned on using federal recruiting to aid him in this task. He also wanted to reorganize the use of the nation’s natural resources, thereby aiding to former-president Theodore Roosevelt’s conservation initiatives. In the end, FDR did provide many new jobs at the onset of his presidency, however unemployment didn’t improve to the point that it was in the early 1920s.
In FDR’s second term, his goal was to further work towards ending the depression. As stated in his Second Inaugural Address, Roosevelt listed the many hardships of American life at the time and he vowed to better the low American quality of life.
During Roosevelt’s third and fourth terms, the US was entrenched in World War II. At the beginning of FDR’s third term, the US was just entering the war; and at the outset of FDR’s fourth term, the US was helping to end the war. At the war’s beginning, Roosevelt wanted to completely stay neutral. The other entanglement that he was willing to risk was to trade with the European nations involved in the war. However, with the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, FDR felt as though he needed to exert the US’s power and force in order to protect itself. This attitude ultimately helped to end WWII.
Throughout Roosevelt’s first four terms, he always had a very good relationship with Congress. This good relationship could be seen when Roosevelt called for an emergency Congressional session in order to pass the New Deal. Congress followed through on FDR’s large request and many new pieces of legislation were made in a matter of a year’s time. Congress also showed their support in the Electorate vote; in every presidential election Roosevelt was in, he carried at least 81% of the Electoral vote. Congress additionally answered to Roosevelt’s call when declaring war. After Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor, Roosevelt asked Congress to declare war and Congress unanimously voted for it. The only dark time in Roosevelt’s relationship with Congress was after his Court Packing Plan of 1937. The American people saw this as a suspicious and furtive plot for Roosevelt to further himself politically instead of doing what was right for the nation. After this act, little to no new pieces of legislation proposed by FDR passed through Congress concerning the New Deal.
The most positive action of Roosevelt’s presidency was by far the New Deal. It provided immediate relief for the American people during a time when total and complete collapse of the nation was imminent. Roosevelt kept the people in mind first when dealing with how to “fix” the nation. He passed laws that helped create jobs, stabilize the banks, inflate US currency, lower overproduction from farmers and factories, and help unions and laborers fight for fairer treatment. Even though the New Deal didn’t solely pull the United States out of the depression, it did play a significant role in bettering the nation and providing quick improvement in the lives of many Americans.
The most negative aspect of FDR’s presidency is a spot shared by two of Roosevelt’s decisions: his court packing plan and his neutrality and isolationist outlook during the beginning of WWII. At the onset of WWII, America was still fighting through the depression and FDR began pulling out of international affairs, such as the London Conference’s plan to make a universal exchange rate for currency. FDR was only concerned with the well-being of the United States and he believed that isolationism was the only way that America could quickly get back on track economically. As a result, during the pre-WWII era, while Britain and France were dealing with Hitler’s ambitious war-like tactics, the US claimed neutrality and, as stated in the Neutrality Act of 1939, America would only offer up their war supplies to be bought in cash by only European democracies and those nations had to come directly to America in their own carrying ships in order to obtain these goods. American’s motives to so greatly isolate themselves during the beginning of the war hurt the United States in the long run. The US’s refusal to enter in world affairs caused Britain and France to feel outnumbered when going against the very powerful Hitler and his allies. If FDR chose to help Britain and France before the bombings at Pearl Harbor, together they could have stopped Hitler and Japan before they began to further terrorize other nations.
Roosevelt’s other poor decision made while in office may not have been major in the grand scheme of American history, but it greatly affected Americans’ views of FDR. In an attempt to “cleanse” the Supreme Court, Roosevelt indirectly offended the public. The unspoken rule of tampering with the sacred Supreme Court came across as overly ambitious and dishonorable in the eyes of the people and, therefore, FDR’s reputation suffered. The people were convinced that purposely “running” justices out of the Supreme Court would negatively affect Americans’ basic rights and they saw it as a danger to the checks and balances of the three government branches. Other Americans even branded Roosevelt as a communist; this insult didn’t go over well during a time when red scare feelings still resonated in the backs of many Americans’ minds. After this doing, the people began to vote more and more Republicans into office during congressional elections. Congress also reacted by being more stringent in the passing through of more New Deal policies. This put a very large dampening on FDR’s relationship with Congress, the people, and with the progression of the New Deal.
One of the most influential decisions made by Roosevelt during his administration was the New Deal. This long list of legislation created many new laws that were meant to help the American people during the Great Depression. However, much of the legislation passed during the time is still in place today. For example, the Social Security Act, the Tennessee Valley Authority, the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, and the Federal Housing Administration were all originally parts of FDR’s New Deal and they are all still in effect today. Even the legislation passed that was discontinued had lasting effects on the American people.
In conclusion, Roosevelt make great strides in bettering the nation. His enthusiasm upon entering office made the people trust and believe in his process: the New Deal. His New Deal was very positive and far-reaching in its effects. His added commitment to the well-being of the United States also led the country to success during WWII and to the strengthening of US relations with neighboring nations. Even though FDR could have done better in terms of respecting the feelings of the people, unlike in the court packing plan, and when insisting on US isolation at the beginning of WWII, he came back from these difficulties and was ultimately still an effective leader of the nation, bringing the country back from depression and further establishing it as a world power. Therefore, Roosevelt is a worthy recipient of a B for the work he did in bettering the nation while president.
Works Cited
DeGregorio, William. The Complete Book of U.S. Presidents. Fort Lee: Barricade. 2005.